about phase linear

[leftwinger]

Hello Guys/gals, 1st post here and I was referred here by my friends over at Audio Karma. I was always interested in Phase Linear gear the 1st series 400 amps and then the 4000 pre/amp w/ that joy stick in the middle. First off I also belong to the Polk Forum and they do not look kindly to anything Phase Linear, as a matter of fact they call them flame Linears. Real question is if a good example comes up on C/L for a good price how would you compare it to my Adcom GFA-555 205wpc( specked by Audio Classics) and have had it for some 6 years now trouble free. #2 the 4000 pre w/ all those knobs and switches and that joystick ,is this a good unit and I get that the stick is not used all the time if at all. I'm into vintage spkrs of the early to mid '70s w/ the exception of my Polk '87 Polk SDA 2Bs. If signature comes up you will see what I have now and sold a set of Bose 601s and liked them a lot and a set of ADC303ax which just died and Advent Prodigy also sold. Now I found EPI for my east coast sound along w/ Rectilinear Low Boys. With what I have what match does Phase Linear present and maybe looking at Carver amps also just for something different.
I hope to hang here also to get the feel of the place. I was a lurker at the Polk site for some time before I got my SDAs and my original '78 Monitor 7s w/ the Peerless tweeters and feel I should just jump in and not waste anytime.

NO affiliation w/ Audio Classics just a customer and bought my amp and then the NAD 1020a sight and sound unseen just on reputation alone and their very conservative rating system. Thanks sorry for the novel...

 

[Northwinds]

I used to belong to the Polk Forum many years ago. It just seemed like a bunch of angry people who denounced anything they did not personally like

Flame Linear is just a moniker put on amps that were never meant for PA application which these amps were used for because nothing else sounded so good and could deliver the massive power, they were not designed to be PA amps and have no DC protection so when driven hard for long periods with low impedence loads, things could go badly without adequate cooling

I am biased since I think the Phase Linear amps, especially maxed out with with White Oak components can't be touched for the dollar spent. Others here will give you their thoughts backed with evidence. I just know my upgraded PL amps that I have owned stomp anything I have owned in the past, tube or Solid State. That includes the mighty Mark Levinson 333.5 that is now long gone and not even missed

Welcome to Phoenix

 

[orange]

I like Monitor 4s, I just didn't know President James K. Polk was into audio as well as folk dancing.

Since there were no records and no amps, that was way ahead of his time.

(Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman must have visited)

We won't fry or flame broil your WOPL, but you are welcome to play cheesy stuff while pickled...lettuce welcome you. You'll ketchup fast and be able to cut the mustard. Relish your time here.

PS Spam is not on the menu.

PPS look down V V V V V V and download this and last year's Phoenix Christmas albums, courtesy of my alter ego, Rebel Elf.

 

[orange]

Oh...the only women we have lately tend to be in Lee's family (Laatsch84 and Jani)...or NavLinear's avatarts...

Send some wicked, ornery ones with soldering irons and half a mind of what else they'd do with them.

 

[Fishoz]

Welcome to Phoenix LW. Your "novel" sparked my interest. Before my B&W's I had Polk 7's...didn't think anything else would do. Picked the B&W's up for s song and that's when the shit hit the fan and have totally replaced every component in my system.

My Buddy runs a modded GFA 555 (bought new) and is currently in the process of decision....overhaul the Adcom or find something new. We run different speakers but pretty sure he is hearing things through my WOPL that he likes. We are going to try and swap out a couple components and see if we can pinpoint his weakness...could be the amp, speakers or pre (also adcom).

Don't be in a rush, took me over a year to figure out what moves to make. Stick around and I guarantee we will spark your curiosity.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Welcome to the zoo, we hope to SPARK your interest but not to the point of FLAMES....... Were are Light years ahead of that now. Them boys or' yonder need to read up and catch up.... Good luck on your quest of audio orgasm..... I found mine.

 

[Northwinds]

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maxwedge426/media/DSCF7335_zpskrsscsda.mp4.html?sort=3&o=20

 

[fitz43]

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maxwedge426/media/DSCF7335_zpskrsscsda.mp4.html?sort=3&o=20

Ron, got another link to it? The above doesn't work here in two different browsers.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Mine came up..... Jamming to Boston..............

 

[Northwinds]

Lately I have had problems even getting Photobucket to load, I will try to post the direct link but Perry is right, it's Boston and is the MFSL disc of Third Stage at near max power with a WOPL 400. No clipping, no funny noises and more headroom on tap

 

[Northwinds]

Try this

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v514/maxwedge426/DSCF7335_zpskrsscsda.mp4

 

[Geegz]

Both links worked fine for me......

"Good to be back in Boston, YEAH"

 

[Northwinds]

I remember that hawk/falcon! Was it a commercial???

 

[Geegz]

Dairy Queen commercial, rock n roll falcon:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lTDuv0Fo-_g

 

[orange]

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maxwedge426/media/DSCF7335_zpskrsscsda.mp4.html?sort=3&o=20

It's an mp4 file and I have stuff that would play it but all I got from that page was led out with a path of advertisements. Doesn't photobucket have enough ads?

 

[orange]

The second link worked.

 

[fitz43]

Try this

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v514/maxwedge426/DSCF7335_zpskrsscsda.mp4

That worked....

 

[orange]

Perry's red LEDs for Roxanne must have been seen by a newbie on eBay from Indiana...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291963786332

 

[Lazarus Short]

Ye Red Knight doth welcome thee!


Laz, actually, and one of the very few non-Phase Linear owners here, but running two bi-amped systems and two non-biamped systems. My power levels are adequate.

 

[Northwinds]

Stuff a WOPL into a huge early 80s Yorx silver receiver and watch peoples faces at an audio amp shootout

Both channels fed with the single volume control